Posts Tagged ‘Change’

Change. One of the few things in life we can count on happening. It can bring great things into your life or tragedy. As you well know our lives are in a constant flux and every moment is impacted by our surroundings and energies around us. Take for instance you walk into work in a great mood after just finishing a cup of coffee with one of your best friends. You are on cloud nine. As you step into your building you realize that something is off . You look around and there is not a smile. What the heck happened while you were gone for 15 minutes? Turns out your company just announced that they lost a large account. You can almost hear the death knell. Something like this is going to have an impact on almost every person in the company. What would be your reaction? Would you join many of your co-workers in mourning or would you start thinking about what opportunities can be pulled from the situation? Are you the guy who thinks that by losing that client it will leave room for a different client that maybe has deeper pockets and allows for more creativity? Or are you the guy who looks at change as an insurmountable obstacle that blocks your path to happiness?
I’m not saying anything that has not been said before but I do think our reaction to change is the key to our true happiness. If we are the people who bang their heads against a problem and try to wrestle it into submission it will bring a lot of adversity and pain into our lives. Shit happens. We can control some factors in our lives but not as much as we would like to. So as evolving human beings we need to take a step back when crazy stuff happens and look at the problem objectively. I recently read something about a guy who used to love his job. He was the first one there, last one to leave and earned more clients for the company than anyone else on the sales force. And then one day he was passed over for a promotion that he thought he was amply qualified for and he deserved it. That’s when he quit his job. He did not leave the company but he disassociated himself with his position. His sales fell, his attitude around the office changed and he began to resent going to work. He wallowed in his problem. It seeped into every pore of his body and affected his work and home life. His reaction to that specific situation colored everything that he did until he finally exited the company. That is such a self-defeating attitude. If you don’t like where you are standing…MOVE!
These types of changes are scary stuff but if that guy had stepped back and evaluates the situation maybe he would find out that with his experience and drive that there is a company out there that would love to have him on board and that will hire him into the position that he were just passed over for. Or maybe this gave you the opportunity to start his own business.
I try to look at change as opportunity but sometimes it is tough. But I do know that if you waste your energy beating up a problem instead of embracing it and finding way to work through it or around it you ‘re not going to get very far and it will change the way you perceive yourself and your environment and surround you in negativity. That I will not have in my life.
You may be asking yourself as you get to the end of my rant, “What in the hell does any of this have to do with a cat and the post office. Here’s why:Hasbro Gaming announced that the sturdy little iron Monopoly piece will be replaced by a cat.The Untied States Post Office will announce that they are shutting Saturday mail deliver down in August. There is some controversy surrounding this action.
I’m going to miss the weird little iron that caused me to think every time I sat down to play a game, “Why in the hell did they choose an iron?”, and I’m going to miss getting my mail on Saturdays. I’ll tell you something, it’s not going to ruin my day or even one second of my life. Believe it or not there are people going off the deep-end about these two issues. Please don’t think that I am totally disregarding the impact on postal employees, I’m not. I get that. It’s the regular Joe that is crossing his arms and stamping his feet. He’s inviting negativity into his lives and letting it throw mud pies at his happiness.

“And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.”
― Libba Bray, The Sweet Far Thing

I feel the need to get this off my chest this morning. Over the past few weeks I have paid close attention to the Ray Lewis hype through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl and now I have some things to say. Before I begin my little rant let me preface it by saying that I am well aware that much of the press that he has received is created to sell papers, magazines and to get website hits.
Here’s what irks me, people who judge others. I am well aware of the controversies that surround Ray Lewis and I understand the seriousness of some of his past mistakes. Here’s the thing. Ray Lewis did not come from a stable background and coming from a difficult home situation can cause a myriad of problems and adjustments way into later life. Ray just like many others, probably people you know, have struggled all their lives building their own moral structure and emotional response system.
Another good example is Curtis Jackson, AKA 50 Cent. He came from a terribly troubled childhood and grew into a drug dealing teen who’s only thought each day was survival. It has taken him a long time to come around but he has truly come to understand the value of life, love and that helping others is the true key to happiness.
I mention these two guys because they are public examples of people who have been judged by actions that they have tried to atone for and rectify. I have known many, many people who have walked similar paths and made poor decisions. What interests me is how most of these people have become better people for their mistakes. As a parent I have allowed my kids to make mistakes, which is not always easy but in the mistakes we make are the real lessons in life. We can see first-hand what the impact is on ourselves and our families. These lessons allow us to grow and become better parents and human beings.
Please don’t respond with comments about how accepting bad behavior is morally wrong because if that is what you think this is about you are dead wrong.
In my opinion both of these men are success stories. They work hard in our communities to uplift others and their stories are examples of facing adversity, fears and obstacles and turning their lives around. If you made it all the way through this, thanks for hearing me.
BTW what have you done to be exceptional today?

“Wins and losses come a dime a dozen. But effort? Nobody can judge that. Because effort is between you and you.” Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens

Your experience is your life; the things you go through make you who you are. So I’ve spent four years being what people call “successful,” and all the rest of my life not having it. And maybe because of that, the painful moments are more visible in my memory. If I’m writing about the environment I grew up in, then guns are gonna be goin’ off. 50 CENT, Spin, Jul. 2007

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I am a freelance writer and graphic designer in Central Florida. Please check out my portfolio at http://www.laurabwilliamsdesigns. I have always loved to read and write and draw. I wrote and illustrated my first book when I was 6 about a princess and her mean father, the King. It wasn’t ... Continue reading →

Laura B. Williams

I am a writer, content marketer and social consultant. I work with brands and public figures to help them tell their story. You can learn more at www.goodinklings.com.
I am also the host of The Writing Biz Show http://thewritingbiz.com